CSD Board Briefing
April 21, 2026 School Board Meeting
The Governing Board unanimously approved all items listed under the Consent Agenda. These items are considered routine and are acted upon in one motion, unless requested for separate discussion by a Board member, staff, or member of the public. It is understood that the administration recommends approval of all consent items.
To view supporting documents, click on the following links:
The Governing Board accepted the appointment of the new principal at Steindorf STEAM School, Mrs. Debbie Stein. Currently the principal of Sartorette Elementary School, she has been appointed as the new principal of Steindorf STEAM School, effective July 1.
Ms. Stein brings a wealth of experience, dedication, and leadership to this role. Many in our community may remember that she previously served as a teacher at Steindorf, making this transition especially meaningful. Her deep understanding of the school’s culture, combined with her proven leadership at Sartorette, positions her well to guide Steindorf into its next chapter.
We are thrilled to welcome Mrs. Stein back to Steindorf and are confident that she will continue to inspire students, support staff, and strengthen connections with families. Please join us in congratulating Mrs. Stein on her new role.
The Governing Board accepted the appointment of the new Executive Director of Educational Services, Mr. Matt Hill. On February 5, 2026, the Board approved the new job description for the Executive Director of Educational Services and placed the position on the Certificated Management Salary Schedule.
Ms. Margaret Lavin, principal of Price Middle School, highlighted and shared key actions and services implemented to improve student outcomes.
The Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) is a three-year plan that outlines the goals, actions, services, and expenditures designed to support positive student outcomes aligned with state and local priorities. The LCAP also provides an opportunity for schools and the District to communicate how and why programs and services are selected to meet local needs.
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The Cambrian Art Team highlighted the current state of the program and shared highlights, challenges, and goals for next year.
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The Executive Director of Educational Services, Mr. Matt Hill, updated on Proposition 28, the Arts and Music in Schools Funding Guarantee and Accountability Act.
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Mr. Mujtaba Rauf, Director of Informational Technology, updated on the District's Technology Plan, community input, and priorities for moving forward.
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Chief Business Officer, Mr. Linh Nguyen, presented Resolution 25-26-11: Increasing School Facilities Fees, which will allow Cambrian to increase charges on development projects.
The Governing Board approved Resolution 25-26-11, Increasing School Facilities Fees, to authorize the Cambrian School District to increase the fees charged to development projects. The Cambrian School District collects developer fees on any new and additional construction of residential and commercial buildings within the district boundaries.
Every two years, the State Allocation Board adjusts the amount of developer fees that school districts may levy. On January 28, 2026, an increase in fees that school districts may collect was approved.
In order to align with the updated rates, the District completed the required Developer Fee Justification Study in partnership with SchoolWorks Inc.
On April 2, 2026, Mr. Ken Reynolds, Schoolworks President, presented the results of the 2026 Developer Fee Justification Study, demonstrating that the district has justification for increasing developer fees.
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Superintendent Kristi Schwiebert provided a status update on the School Consolidation Transition Plan, initially presented on February 26, 2026, and March 19, 2026. The Transition Plan is intended to guide implementation of the Board of Trustees’ school closure decision in a student-centered, equitable, transparent, and legally compliant manner.
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The Governing Board approved the filing of Notices of Exemption under the California Environmental Quality Act for Bagby, Fammatre, and Farnham Elementary Schools. On February 26, 2026, the Governing Board approved the closure of Sartorette Elementary School. As part of the school closure process, the District is required to evaluate the action under the California Environmental Quality Act (Pub. Res. Code §§ 21000 et seq. (“CEQA”)), including consideration of applicable exemptions.
This proposed Board action is to approve the Notices of Exemption under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) related to the Board’s recent decision to: (1) close Sartorette Elementary School (“Sartorette”) as of June 30, 2026; (2) transfer students attending Sartorette to Bagby, Farnham and Fammatre Elementary Schools; and (3) make adjustments to the District’s attendance boundaries (collectively the “Project”). The Project fits within three exemptions, and none of the factors that could disqualify the project from those exemptions have been found to apply.
LEGAL STANDARD:
The District must comply with the pertinent provisions of CEQA (Pub. Resources Code, sec. 21000 et seq.) and the CEQA Guidelines (Cal. Code of Regs., Tit. 14, Sec. 15000 et seq.) for this Project. The CEQA Guidelines provide specific exemptions from further compliance with CEQA, that are simple and economical to document.
REQUESTED ACTION:
District staff seeks Board approval to file three Notices of Exemption, one for each school site receiving transfer students from Sartorette, based upon one Statutory Exemption and two Categorical Exemptions under the CEQA Guidelines:
• Public Resources Code section 21080.18: This statutory exemption provides that CEQA does not apply to the closing of a school or the transfer of students to another school if the only physical changes involved are categorically exempt under the CEQA Guidelines.
• Class 1, Existing Facilities (Sec. 15301): This categorical exemption includes minor alteration of existing facilities, which would include minor alterations to the schools to accommodate transferring students.
• Class 14, Minor Additions to Schools (Sec. 15314): This categorical exemption includes minor additions to schools that do not add more than ten new classrooms or increase student capacity by 25% or more, whichever is less. None of the receiving schools will need to be expanded by this categorically exempt threshold in order to accommodate students transferring from the closed school.
Further, while CEQA makes explicit exceptions where a project that otherwise would qualify for one or more exemptions must go through a full CEQA analysis, those exceptions are not applicable here. The record for this Project includes documentation that identified no unusual impacts or particular environmental sensitivities for this Project that are not otherwise exempt.
Because each receiving school site is in different project areas, District staff prepared a Notice of Exemption for each of the three campuses.
Supporting Documents:
Proposed Notices of Exemption for Bagby, Farnham, and Fammatre Elementary Schools
The Governing Board approved the appointment of Mr. Linh Nguyen as the Chief Business Officer. Following the resignation of the Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Nguyen has been serving as the Interim Chief Business Officer, overseeing the daily operations of the Business Department.
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The Governing Board voted for one Ms. Jodi Muirhead for the California School Boards Association Delegate Assembly 2026-28 Term. The California School Boards Association Delegate Assembly is a vital link in the governance structure and ensures that the association reflects the interests of school districts and county offices of education throughout the state.
Nominations for the Delegate Assembly were submitted in January 2026. On March 25, 2026, the election in our Region resulted in a tie, necessitating a runoff election. The candidates’ biographical sketches are attached for review. The Governing Board of Trustees may cast one (1) vote for a candidate. All re-elected and newly elected Delegates will serve two-year terms beginning April 1, 2026, through March 31, 2028.
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The Board of Trustees provided an update on the recent open-door meeting with the community held at Price.
Thursday May 7, 2026 – 6:30 p.m.
Professional Development Center, 4115 Jacksol Drive, San Jose, (Bldg. 7)
Meetings are also streamed online. Agenda and login details will be posted the week of the meeting. All are welcome to attend.